Baptism Instructions

• Please meet with Pastor Brett at 9:45 AM at the front right of the sanctuary for final instructions and any questions you may have.

• Baptisms are typically scheduled for the first Sunday of each month and are performed by our Lead Pastor. If you’d like to request a different date or have someone else perform the baptism, please let us know below.

• Be prepared to briefly answer the question: “Why do you want to be baptized?” This is your opportunity to share a simple profession of faith.

• Baptisms take place during praise and worship in the baptistry (enter through the door at the front right corner of the auditorium). The music will pause briefly so your profession of faith and baptism can be clearly heard and celebrated by the congregation.

• We will provide a baptism shirt and towels. Separate male and female changing rooms are available in the baptistry area. Please bring a change of clothes for after your baptism.

After service you and your family are invited to join us for a lunch in the Banquet Hall!

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Common Questions About Baptism

1. What is baptism?
• Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. It’s a public declaration of how Jesus has changed your life. Being baptized shows others that you’ve decided to follow Jesus and invites them to celebrate that decision with you (Acts 16:31–34).
• Baptism doesn’t save a person; it’s a symbol and celebration of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that transforms our lives — and that’s worth celebrating!

2. Why should I be baptized?
• Jesus instructed us to be baptized and set the example by being baptized Himself (Matthew 28:19–20, Mark 1:9). Obeying Him in baptism shows that we believe in Him and have chosen to follow Him (1 John 2:3).
• Because Jesus went public with His love for us, we can go public with our love for Him. Baptism is a powerful step of obedience that shows we are turning from sin and trusting Jesus to transform us (Acts 2:38–41).

3. When’s the best time to be baptized?
• Baptism is the next step for anyone who has made a decision to follow Jesus. If you’ve committed your life to Him, you're ready to be baptized (Acts 8:12).

4. Do you baptize children?
• We believe baptism should follow a personal decision to trust Jesus for salvation. As parents, we help guide our children toward faith, but they must make the decision themselves (Romans 10:9).
• At Agape, we wait until children are old enough to express their own faith in Jesus and understand what baptism means (Acts 10:47–48).
• If your child has made this decision, take time to talk with them about what baptism is and why it matters. Facilitate the conversation, but let them take the lead.

5. What’s the difference between immersion, sprinkling, and other methods of baptism?
• In the Bible, baptisms were performed by immersion. The original word for baptism means to be immersed or submerged in water. Jesus Himself was baptized by being immersed and then coming up out of the water (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10).
• Immersion symbolizes Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). It also reflects our own spiritual transformation — dying to our old life and being raised to new life in Christ (Romans 6:3–5).

6. Do I need to be baptized again?
• That depends on when and why you were baptized. At Agape, we believe baptism should follow a personal decision to trust and follow Jesus. If you were baptized as an infant or before truly committing your life to Christ, we encourage you to be baptized again as a public declaration of your own faith.
• If you’ve already been baptized after making a sincere decision to follow Jesus, you don’t need to be baptized again. However, if you’ve walked away from your faith and now feel led to rededicate your life to Christ, being baptized again can be a meaningful way to mark that renewed commitment.
• If you're unsure about your situation, we’d love to talk with you and help you take your next step.